News:
April 27, 2020
The biggest steel manufacture, importer and exporter company in the West African sub-region, B 5 Plus, located at Prampram industrial enclave which employs close to ten thousand Ghanaians has given assurance that it would not fire employees in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mike Thakwani he believes government has put in measures to contain the spread of the disease and Ghana would emerge as a winner and be out of the pandemic soon.
“We would do all possible to retain our employees in this difficult times. Our only problem is that the erratic supply of electricity and water, needed help from government on this, we would be fine and not fire a single person”.
He further pointed out in an interview that with the constant supply of electricity, the company would rather employ more Ghanaians as they need to show sympathy in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
As to how the outbreak of COVID-19 is impacting on his company, he noted that it brought additional cost because precautionary measures had to be taken to ensure that workers are taken good care of.
In addition, he noted that the company has to house the workers to take care of their breakfast, lunch and dinner and again ensure there is wearing of facemask, with constant supply of water despite the fact that they are faced with a problem of supply of water by Ghana Water Company.
“We have to buy water outside which is really adding up to our cost, we are pleading with government to help us”, he lamented.
Mr. Thakwani again disclosed that B5 Plus Ltd has supported the COVID-19 fund with three hundred thousand Ghana cedis and donated medical equipment to health facilities in the Prampram enclave it operates.
As most of the workers are from the Prampram and Ashiaman the company provided them with food basket to be given to their families and they are provided with a day and half pay so that they would feel comfortable to work.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com